United States Probation Officer

📍 Las Cruces, New Mexico · 🏛 U.S. Courts · 💰 $66,583–$74,678 per year · 🎓 CL 27 · 🧭 Correctional Officer (0007) · ⏳ Closes Nov 13, 2026 · 2 days left · 🗓 Posted Aug 14, 2026
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About this job

The United States Probation and Pretrial Services Office for the District of New Mexico is currently accepting applications for a United States Probation Officer in the Las Cruces divisional office. U.S. Probation is a border district with a very diverse, high volume caseload. Selected candidates will be placed as United States Probation Officer in the Post-Conviction Unit.

Duties

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES: Pretrial Services: The incumbent gathers and verifies background information concerning persons charged with a federal criminal offense when they are arrested or summoned to the court. Information is gathered through interviews with the defendant, arresting authorities, U.S. Attorney's Office, family, and community members. Incumbent uses law enforcement automated criminal records systems to obtain and verify information. Drug testing and substance abuse assessments are performed. This information is evaluated and presented in report format to a judge prior to the initial hearing with an assessment of flight risk and danger to the community. A recommendation regarding bail and/or release or detention of the defendant is included in the report. In formulating a recommendation, the incumbent considers prior convictions, ability of the defendant to post bond, community ties, possibility of substance abuse and the risk of flight, as well as the degree of danger to the community. The incumbent supervises those defendants that are released, when required. Makes regular telephone contact, conducts home visits and community contact as required by the conditions of release and the supervision plan. Ensures that the defendant submits required drug tests. Supervision intervention conducted with the defendant to modify behavior to reduce potential for revocation. Assists those needing medical help, food, shelter, and other assistance by referring them to the appropriate community or government agencies. Coordinates and monitors the defendant's contact with community resources. Presentence Investigations: The incumbent may conduct investigations and prepare reports for the Court with recommendations for sentencing of individuals convicted of federal offenses. The preparation of these reports requires interviewing defendants and their families, investigating the offense, obtaining prior record and financial status of defendants, contacting law enforcement agencies, attorneys, victims of the crime, schools, churches, and civic organizations. The purpose of these activities is to ascertain the defendant's background to assess the probability of future criminal behavior and determine profit from the offense; restitution and the defendant's ability to pay fines, costs of prosecution, incarceration, and cost of supervision. An integral part of this process is the interpretation and application of the U.S. Sentencing Commission guidelines and relevant case law. Post-Conviction: The incumbent may supervise offenders to maximize adherence to court-imposed conditions to reduce risk to the community and to provide correctional treatment. The incumbent develops a supervision plan and maintains a detailed record of case activity on offenders; maintains personal contact with offenders through community, office visits and via telephone; coordinates and monitors offender's contact with community resources, i.e., substance abuse facilities, counselors, shelters, or employment facilities; investigates/verifies employment, sources of income, lifestyle, and their associates to assess risk and compliance. The incumbent performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum requirements for consideration as a U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Officer at a CL 27 include: Completion of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in a field of academic study which provides evidence of the capacity to understand and apply the legal requirements and human relations skills involved in the work of the position. PLUS 2-years specialized experience. This means progressively responsible experience gained after completion of a bachelor's degree, in such fields as probation, pretrial services, parole, criminal investigations, legal research/investigations, or work in substance/addiction treatment. NOTE: The following experience is not credible and does not count towards specialized experience: police officer, custodial, corrections or security officer, other than that directly involving criminal investigative experience. Only the most qualified applicants will be contacted for testing and/or interviews. Financial and background check outcomes must be favorable. Financial rating must be in good standing, devoid of late payments, bankruptcies and collections ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must not have reached their 37th birthday at the time of appointment1 and must be physically capable of performing duties requiring moderate to arduous physical exertion. Any severe health problem may be disqualifying. The position requires mandatory officer safety and firearms training. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or eligible to work in the United States. Applicants must undergo and clear an NCIC check, background investigation, financial and fingerprint checks. Applicants must not use illegal drugs or abuse alcohol or prescription drugs. Applicants must be able to travel to divisional offices in New Mexico for periodic work assignments as required. Applicants must maintain confidentiality and practice a good work ethic; possess good multi-tasking management skills; have very strong interpersonal/verbal and written communication skills; be a team player; and be flexible in a changing environment. Prior to appointment, the successful candidate must undergo and pass a medical examination and drug screening. The candidate may then be appointed provisionally, pending a favorable suitability determination by the court. In addition, as conditions of employment, incumbent will be subject to ongoing random drug screening, updated background investigations every five years, and as deemed necessary by management for reasonable cause, may be subject to subsequent fitness-for-duty evaluations. The medical requirements and the essential job functions are derived from the medical guidelines for probation officers, pretrial services officers and officer assistants and are available for public review at http://www.uscourts.gov. Employees are required to adhere to a Code of Ethics and Conduct which is available for applicants review upon request.

Education

Bachelor 's Degree

Requirements

Incumbent must clear a pre-employment medical examination, federal background investigation, and financial check.

Evaluations

Number of years and type of experience.

How to apply

To be considered for this position, qualified applicants must submit a complete application packet which includes: Letter of Interest Resume Copy of official college transcripts. Copy of two most recent performance evaluations. AO 78, Application for Federal Judicial Branch Employment found at: https://www.nmpp.uscourts.gov/career-opportunities All application packets must be emailed in ONE PDF document only and sent to: uspojobs@nmp.uscourts.gov or by mail to: Ron Travers Chief U.S. Probation Officer 333 Lomas Blvd. NW, Suite 170 Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102 Attn: Victoria Hilton-Eckhart Human Resources Specialist

Applications are handled only on the official announcement. This page is a readable copy of the public announcement data — the official version controls if anything differs.

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Required documents

Letter of Interest Resume Copy of official college transcripts. Copy of two most recent performance evaluations. AO 78, Application for Federal Judicial Branch Employment found at: https://www.nmpp.uscourts.gov/career-opportunities See 'How to Apply' for instructions.

What to expect next

Only the most qualified applicants will be contacted for testing and/or interviews.

Benefits

Paid Annual Leave Paid Sick Leave Paid Federal Holidays Paid Parental Leave after one year of full-time employment Pre-tax benefit programs Health Insurance Vision/Dental Insurance Group Life insurance Long-Term Care Insurance Defined contribution retirement benefits (FERS) Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)- 401 (k)-styled program with up to 5% match Transit subsidy Credit for prior Federal Government service Mandatory electronic deposit of salary payment

Other information

Please send the required documents in one PDF file. The U. S. Probation and Pretrial Services Office for the District of New Mexico is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Frequently asked questions

How much does this United States Probation Officer job pay?

The announcement lists a salary of $66,583–$74,678 per year (CL 27).

When is the last day to apply?

Applications close on Nov 13, 2026 — 2 days from today.

Where is this job located?

This position is located in Las Cruces, New Mexico with the U.S. Courts.

How do I apply?

Applications are submitted through the official announcement on USAJobs. Use the Apply button on this page to go to the official posting — this site never takes applications itself.

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Data: USAJobs (U.S. Office of Personnel Management), retrieved 2026-11-11 · Announcement 26-19 · Official announcement. FederalJobs is unofficial and is not affiliated with OPM or the agency.
United States Probation Officer
Nov 13, 2026 deadlineApply